QUICKVOTE

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

HONG KONG (CNN) -- Amid a growing number of cases of bird flu around the world, there is increasing global concern that the virus may mutate to a human-to-human strain and eventually lead to a pandemic.

What exactly is H5N1? Will a pandemic occur in our lifetime? In an insightful special program hosted by Stan Grant, "Bird Flu, Preventing a Pandemic," CNN International correspondents report from Asia, Europe and America on the threats, fears and potential cures around the virus.

The program features Hugh Riminton visiting a now-abandoned chicken farm in the New Territories of Hong Kong, where some chickens were caught with the H5N1 virus in 1997, leading to the death of thousands of others in neighboring farms.

Then, Stan Grant reports from China to look at why the country is often the incubator for infectious diseases.

"Bird Flu, Preventing a Pandemic" also travels to Yandovka in Russia, a remote village where Bird Flu cases have been reported and now finds itself under quarantine.

Ryan Chilcote meets with villagers to see how their lives have been affected by H5N1 and speaks to a bird expert who explains how migratory birds have the potential to spread the disease to Southern Europe.

As fears grow in Europe, Rome Bureau Chief Alessio Vinci speaks to health officials about the Bird Flu threat facing Italy, a country rushing to introduce a labeling system for poultry,.

Looking at the disease's wider possible ramifications, Eunice Yoon gauges the economic impact of a possible outbreak by asking what businesses are doing to prepare themselves for the worst case scenario.

Paul Foskey of Marriott International speaks to Yoon on the company's contingency plan to protect the Marriott's numerous hotels in Asia in case of a bird flu outbreak.

The hour-long program also takes an in-depth look at measures to prevent and deal with an outbreak of the bird flu.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigates the potential of anti-bird flu drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza.

Charles Hodson travels to Geneva and Basel in Switzerland to speak with Dr. Margaret Chan of the World Health Organization and Roche, the sole manufacturer of Tamliflu, to discuss the supply of drugs and prospects for a cure.

In addition, U.S. health officials and politicians comment on the Bush administration's preparation for preventing an explosion of Bird Flu cases.